Danny Boyle is an MGM favourite to direct Bond 25

British director Danny Boyle has long been linked to helming a James Bond film, back as far as the middle of Pierce Brosnan's run as 007.

Today, trade paper Variety splashed an exclusive that the 'Slumdog Millionaire' helmer is the favourite of studio MGM to direct Bond 25, although no formal offer has yet been made.

"Boyle has keen interest in the project and has always wanted to direct a Bond film," the article states. "He is currently developing a project for Working Title, but with no cast currently attached, there is always the possibility of pushing that movie back to direct the 25th installment in the series."

Strangely, the piece fails to point out that Boyle as directed Daniel Craig as James Bond once before, for the opening sequence of the London 2012 Olympic Games with Queen Elizabeth II.

French film director Yann Demange was a surprise leading candidate of EON Productions, but according to the paper there has been one "last push" to find a better-known name.